New Plan for Cincinnati Oriented Around A Multi-Centered City

Three years in the making, approval nears for Plan Cincinnati - the city's first comprehensive plan to be completed in the last 32 years. Randy A. Simes shares the details of the plan, which focuses growth around 40 walkable neighborhood centers.

1 minute read

August 30, 2012, 2:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Cincinnati holds a distinguished place in the history of the planning profession, as the first major American city to officially endorse a comprehensive plan (1925). With the completion of Plan Cincinnati, which will be presented to the city's the Planning Commission today, the city's planning department hopes to capitalize on the comeback led by Mayor Mark Mallory to refocus Cincinnati on a comprehensive vision for the city, after a contentious period of squabbling between developers and officials. 

According to Simes, "The renewed focus on urbanism in the Plan Cincinnati
document establishes 11 goals that range from growing the city's
population, to becoming more aggressive with economic development, to
developing a culture of health. One of the key goals set out by Plan
Cincinnati calls on leadership to build on the city's existing assets.
To that end, the plan identified 40 Neighborhood Centers that should
serve as the diverse, walkable centers of activity throughout the city."

"City planners acknowledge, however, that building upon existing assets
will not be enough in order to create the envisioned outcomes identified
within PLAN Cincinnati. As a result, the document identifies 14
preliminary opportunities (see second map) for future mixed-use
development that can eventually serve as new neighborhood centers where
they are currently lacking."

Thursday, August 30, 2012 in UrbanCincy

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 14, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

Cars driving under automatic congestion pricing toll machines on Broadway next to the Trump International Hotel in Manhattan, New York City.

Data reveals that NYC’s bet on congestion pricing has paid off

After almost two years of the program, reports show positive impacts on traffic and air quality and no disruptions to parking.

October 13, 2026 - Marcelo Remond

A crane lifts a manufactured house, with is rectangular and does not yet have a roof.

HUD modernizes 50-year-old manufactured housing framework

The Next Generation Manufactured Housing Action Plan establishes new energy-efficiency standards for manufactured homes, and new guidelines for anchoring them.

October 8, 2026 - Boston Real Estate Times

People in Chicago cross the street. There are two CTA buses in the background.

Chicago city vehicles are on the hunt for illegally-parked cars

Cameras on the vehicles can automatically issue tickets to drivers who park their cars in bus or bike lanes.

October 17 - Block Club Chicago

A large brown house in Massachusetts.

Small single-family homes are illegal in most of MA. Voters can change that

Most land zoned for single-family housing in Massachusetts requires at least 40,000 square feet of land per house.

October 16 - NPR

A group of people gather around Metra's battery-powered bus.

Public steps inside U.S.’s first battery-powered train

Metra’s groundbreaking train feature modern seats and a futuristic battery car.

October 16 - Chicago Sun Times